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Ball State police and responders from other public safety organizations are using the summer to stay sharp on how to respond to a large-scale emergency situation. The agencies—Ball State Police Department, Delaware County Emergency Management, Delaware County EMS, Delaware County Sheriff's Department, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Police, and Muncie Police Department—are partnering to practice active shooter response drills.

The two-day exercise is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon and 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, July 29 and 30, at Burris Laboratory School. Officers also will attend lectures to supplement their training.

There will be no street closures.

"We're living in a world today where police departments work together, especially in the unlikely event that something like this happens," said Jim Duckham, director of public safety at Ball State. "So it's really important that agencies train together, too, as partners in the field."

Duckham said Burris is being used not only because summer break makes it logistically accessible but also because Burris administrators, and area public safety officers, are eager to have an opportunity to stay current on best practices. During the drill, volunteers will assume the roles of people whom first responders would likely encounter, including anxious parents and news media.

"People are going to see cars from different agencies because that would likely reflect a real-life scenario," Duckham said. "You plan and train together so you have the expectation that you can respond quickly in any situation."